Bassist, composer and arranger, Ricardo teaches at the Music School of Brasília.
     As a double bassist, Vasconcellos studied under Sandrino Santoro and received his Bachelor´s Degree from the University of Brasilia (1982), in the class of Jacques Frazunkievics. The following names were significant in his training: Pino Onnis and Wolfgang Guttler. From 1996 to 1999, he was  under the orientation of the Dutch Hans Roelofsen, having performed in duo with him on several occasions.
     At the University of Brasilia, he studied under maestro /composer Claudio Santoro (conducting and counterpoint) for three years and Luís Gonzaga Carneiro (instrumentation and orchestration). He has taken several courses in the areas of harmony and improvisation (Ian Guest and Nelson Farias) and conducting (Gerard Kegelmann, Manuel Ivo Cruz and Manuel Prestamo).
    As a soloist, Vasconcellos has performed with several Brazilian orchestras (National Theater, Goiás Philarmonic, Bahia Symphonic, Music School of Brasilia Camerata), having also performed the first audition in Brazil of G. Bottesini´s "Concert in F# minor for double bass and orchestra", as well as other double bass pieces from several composers.
     Simultaneously, Vasconcellos accumulated great experience in popular music, having accompanied artists such as Nara Leão, Zé Rodrix, Antonio Adolfo, Marisa Gata Mansa and having been a member of groups such as "Trio" and "Instrumental et al.", bastions of the instrumental music in Brasilia in the ´70s and ´80s, respectively.
     Vasconcellos has been invited by the Ministry of External Relations Protocol since 1990 to organize and perform in musical events offered by the President to several Heads of State, having been performer, arranger and conductor on such occasions.
     He has a large repertoire in arrangement/orchestration for Brazilian music, having developed a personal approach to blending popular and classical. He has written pieces by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil (interpreted by the composers themselves, conducted by Silvio Barbato), for
the Brasília String Quartet (the CD "Classics of Brazilian Popular Music" ), for the CD "Brasilianas" (by S. Rabinovitz/F. Lopes) and others for soloist, choir and symphonic orchestra.
     Playing in a duo with the pianist Francisca Aquino, whom he has given countless recitals with, Vasconcellos has worked in the production of arrangements for the String Orchestra and the Symphonic Band of Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, and in developing a series of arrangements of Brazilian popular pieces for double bass and piano. Vasconcellos has recently been invited to be a member of the International Society of Bassists, whose seat is in the United States of America.
     Together with Francisca Aquino, Vasconcellos presented the recital "Brazilian Popular Songs for Double Bass and Piano" at the ISB Convention, in Iowa City (USA), in June, 1999. They founded, in 1999, the AssuntoGrave Musical Editions, to publish, among other titles,   their own works.
Ricardo Vasconcellos was also guest-musician for six weeks with the Netherlands Phylarmonic Orchestra of Amsterdam.
     He has performed as head of cast and taught courses in several Brazilian cities (Goiânia, Cuiabá, Teresina and Manaus); he also gave a recital at the IV International Meeting of Double Bassists in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
     His composition "A Taste of Brazil" was published by Ludwin Music, CA, in September 99.